Biographical Sketch of

William H. Borst

Transcribed by Char Eckman



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, 
published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 452 - 455

William H. Borst, who is engaged in general farming in Burr Oak Valley on section 20 in the town of Leon, Waushara 
County, was born in McHenry County, Ill., near the town of Harvard, Sept. 18, 1855, and is of German descent.  He was 
the fourth in a family of eight children, consisting of three sons and five daughters.  His father, Daniel Borst, a 
native of Schoharie County, N. Y., born Dec. 6, 1828, is numbered among the early settlers of Wisconsin of 1854.  He 
first located in Walworth County, but after following farming in that community for a year removed with his family to 
McHenry County, Ill., where for six years he engaged in the same pursuit.  His next home was on section 30 in the town 
of Leon, Waushara County, where he purchased eighty acres of wild land that he placed in a condition for agricultural 
purposes, when he sold and removed to the farm on which our subject now resides.  He first purchased forty acres but 
in 1864 added eighty acres to that amount.  In the spring of the same year, he responded to his country's call for 
troops, enrolling his name with the boys in blue in Company I, 7th Wisconsin Infantry, commanded by Capt. E. E. Terrill.  
He participated in the seven days battle of the Wilderness and the siege before Petersburg.  Remaining with the regiment 
until the close of the war, he was then honorably discharged.

Mr. Borst married Miss Lovina Bice, a native of Schoharie County, N. Y., and a daughter of Joshua Bice, who was born 
and lived in the same State.  Both Mr. Borst and his wife are members of the United Brethren Church and he belongs to 
the G. A. R.

The subject of this sketch received his education in the common schools of the town of Leon and remained under the 
parental roof until twenty-two years of age, when he started out in life for himself.  Entering the employ of his 
brother-in-law, T. S. Chipman, he worked as a farm hand by the month for a brief period when having accumulated some 
capital he purchased eighty acres of land on section 18 in the town of Leon, where he resided for six years.  Selling 
out he then bought 141 acres where he now resides.  He is engaged in general farming and is accounted one of the leading 
young farmers and representative citizens of Waushara County.  Neatness and regularity everywhere abound, and his home 
with its entire surroundings, indicates the thrift and enterprise of the owner.  In politics Mr. Borst has supported 
the Republican party since attaining his majority.  An ardent advocate of the cause of temperance, he is the present 
Chief Templar of Pine River Lodge, No. 291, I. O. G. T., to which his wife also belongs.

On the 14th of December, 1877, Mr. Borst led to the marriage altar Miss Maggie Pollock, an estimable lady of Ford County, 
Ill., born Aug.18, 1861, of Scotch parentage.  Their union has been blessed with the birth of one daughter, Gertie E., 
who was born Dec. 27, 1878.  Mrs. Borst became a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church in her childhood, and since 
that time has lived a consistent, Christian life.  She is daughter of William and Mary (Patton) Pollock, who were the 
parents of twelve children.  Mr. Pollock's occupation is that of a ranchman and he resides in Colorado, where he is 
extensively engaged in stock raising.  Her paternal grandfather was William Pollock and her maternal grandfather was 
David Patton.  The latter was an early settler of Ford County, Ill., and was a lawyer by profession and served as Judge 
of the Circuit Court of that county for many years.  He married Cynthia Busch, who is long since dead, but he is still 
resident of Paxton, Ford Co., Ill., and has reached the remarkable age of ninety-eight years.








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